lapis-lazuli, etc., inlaid in mosaic work, representing flowers, birds, arabesques, and other figures.  Two rooms without windows are exclusively destined to show the effects of illumination.  The walls and the arched roof are covered with mica slate in small silvered frames; fountains splash over glass walls, behind which lights can be arranged, and jets of water are thrown up in the centre of the room.  Even without lights, it glittered and sparkled most marvellously; what must be the effect when innumerable lamps throw back their rays a thousandfold!  Such a sight enables one easily to understand the imaginative descriptions of the Eastern tales of “a thousand-and-one nights.”  Such palaces and rooms may be truly considered works of magic.

Near the palace stands a small mosque, which is also entirely constructed of white marble, richly and artistically furnished with arabesques, reliefs, etc.

Before leaving the fortress, I was led to a deep underground vault—­ the former scene of numerous secret executions.  How much innocent blood may have been shed there!

The Jumna Mosque, which the erudite affirm to surpass that of Soliman’s in Constantinople, stands outside the fortress, upon a high terrace near the river.  It is of red sandstone, has the same wonderful domes, and was built by the Sultan Akbar.  In the arches are to be seen remains of rich paintings in light and dark-blue, intermixed with gilding.  It is to be regretted that this mosque is in a rather dilapidated condition; but it is hoped, however, that it will soon be completely restored, as the English government have already commenced repairing it.

From the mosque we returned again to the town, which is, for the most part, surrounded by rubbish.  The principal street, “Sander,” is broad and cleanly paved in the middle with square stones, and at the sides with bricks.  At both extremities of this street stand majestic gateways.  The houses of the town (from one to four stories high) are almost entirely of red sandstone; most of them are small, but many are surrounded by columns, pillars, and galleries.  Several are distinguished by their handsome porches.  The streets are narrow, crooked, and ugly; the bazaars unimportant.  In India, as well as in the East, the more costly wares must be sought in the interior of the houses.  The population of this town is said to have amounted formerly to 800,000; it is now scarcely 60,000.

The whole environs are full of ruins.  Those who build can procure the materials at the mere cost of gathering them from the ground.  Many Europeans inhabit half-ruinous buildings, which, at a small expense, they convert into pretty palaces.

Agra is the principal seat of two missionary societies—­a Catholic and a Protestant.  Here, as in Benares, they educate the offspring of the children they picked up in 1831.  A little girl was pointed out to me that had recently been bought of a poor woman for two rupees (4s.)